Sword & Shield

Speed is the name of the game when using the SnS. You have to be able to get in under a monster unleash a combo and move back to safe distance. Block only when you need to because the attack is unavoidable. This ensures the weapon doesn't lose too much sharpness. You may also want equip the auto-guard talisman early in the game. It'll be a life-saver and block attacks you may not have even known were coming, but you may want to switch it out later for better skills. Also, make sure to use healing items and the like while the weapon is equipped to minimize vulnerability. Lastly, most SnS weapons have an Elemental affinity. This is a large part of the appeal of the SnS if you want the SnS to be one of your main weapons, you might want to invest in at least two branches to make sure you have options and can expose every monster's elemental weakness.